573 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.
CHAPTER IV.
CHOLERA. - DROUTH. - MESMERISM. - EPIZOOTY.
THE Cholera appeared in Toledo about June 1, 1854. Between that date and July 6th, 130 deaths from that disease occurred. Of these, 34 cases were in what was then known as "Utah," and now East Toledo, or the Sixth Ward of Toledo. The great body of the deceased were strangers, largely foreigners but recently arrived in this country. Of the 130, 112 were buried in the City Cemetery-11 in private lots and 101 in the Potter's Field. It was officially reported that in a large majority of the cases, no attention had been paid to the premonitory symptoms of the disease, the patients having been past recovery before being known to the authorities. The victims were huddled together in close and pestilential quarters; and even when in way of recovery, they were guilty of gross imprudence, and neglect and thus subjected to fatal relapse. A. large portion of the cases were those just arrived here, with the germ of the disease already planted in their systems. A colony of German immigrants then recently arrived, suffered largely. Between July 6th and July 26th, 109 deaths from cholera occurred, averaging 6 per day, and ranging from 1 to 13 daily. Between July 26th and September 1st, 88 deaths occurred, at which latter date the disease had ceased its ravages. The aggregate mortality of the season was 327. The peculiarities as to subjects of its fatality continued throughout, there having been comparatively few deaths among the classes of residents who were careful in diet and habits and prompt and judicious in the employment of remedies. All the conditions considered, it is safe to state, that the prevalence of the disease in Toledo at that time was not due so much to local causes existing Here, as to the condition and habits of those who happened to be here when attacked by the disease. In saying this, however, it is not to be understood that general cleanliness and other proper hygienic conditions are not potent in averting and modifying the ravages of that as of other fatal diseases.
At that time, the population of Toledo was about 8,000-showing the proportion of deaths to population to have been one to 44; a rate, which, though a sad one, was far below the mortality in other Cities from the same disease.
The following is a list of the persons who died of Cholera at that time, so far as the same could be prepared at the time:
John Abell, Mr. Buttermeyer's child, Christian Buger, Henry Bruman, Harriet Burrows and child, Josephine Burrows, Robert Banfield, John Binger, Sophia Binger, Stephen Berri, John Bloner, Catherine Bartley, James Bridges, Chauncy Birch, Mrs. Burger, Mary Burger, Mary A. Beekman, Joseph Brandt, John Brandt, Christian Bower, John Baker, John Collins, John Collamer, John Conlisk, John B. Clark Jr., Mrs. W. Conwell, - Cellar, Gerald Crosthausen, Henry Carl, Ocellina Ceuft, Francis Connell, John Dainscroder, Mrs. Dainscroder, Gilbert Douglass, Fred. Duba, Mary Doherty, Michael Daily, Michael Daugherty, Joseph Druilberger, John W. Engle, Eitel Christian, Mrs. Flynn, Geo. Fanstermacher, Geo. Frainks, Anna Fanncunn, Mr. Fitzpatrick's child, John Fox, Mary Ferrell, Mrs. John Fox, Geo. Frike, James Farnell, Edward, Mary and Caroline Fitzgerald, Adolph Fademan, Wm. Growe, John Glann, Henry Glador, Anthony Grundmar, Parley Gates, Philander Gates, John Gladey, Mrs. Gladey, Mary Gallagher, W. H. Hall, John Hulce, Jacob Hupp, Barbara Hinkler, Mary Harbaum, Louisa Haselbeck, Mrs. P. Hoffman, John Holbert, Jos. Hartman, Catharine Hider, Augustus Huselrerse, L. Holmes, Mary Higgins, Ama Heimlicher, Fredericka Hosseldes, Mr. Hulse's child, Mrs. Halkert, Elizabeth Heidman, Henry Z. Hendauz, Mary Hulse, Geo. Jennings, John Jay, Mary Jennings, John Jacobus, John Jeffrey, McLynn Kraff, Wm. Kaluker. Patrick King, Michael Kennedy, Dominick Klyne, Bridget Kane, Mrs. Kingsbury, Jane Kelley, Elizabeth Knapp, Lewis Lambert and wife, Herbert Leslie, Chas. Lindsey, John Link, Elizabeth Leezen, Joseph Loibel, Charles Leezen, Chas. Lorans, Michael McCarty, Mrs. Mariorty, Margaret Mulchy, Timothy Mahony, Fred. Meisner, Dodd Mildab, John Moser, John McKay, Henry Mulcherfer, Margaret O'Hearn, John O'Neil, Yodelipp Ousel, John L. Peck, Caroline Fredericka, Sophia, John, Francis and Frederick Piper (the entire family); Henry Peck, S. L. Pasko, John Roland, Jacob Roland, Robert M. Roberts, Wm. Rolling, Martin Rinker, Laurence Ragan, Theresa Relin, Wm. Radcliff, Merine Satlice, Hannah Swaton, Jerome Stroup, Fred. Stahl, Patrick Schahon, Mary A. Spackford, Mary Sanger, Fred. Shafer, Seline Swift, Mary Schrouder, Mrs. Susan Strong, John Sheen, David Shriver, Caroline Saxton, Louisa Saxton, Philip Shrouder, Dohann Sachou, Christ. Trotter, Joseph Trotter, Caroline Trust, Elizabeth Vaelbel, Cohn Vincent, Wife and Child, Mrs. Welsh, Mary A. Waggoner, James Whybrow, Mrs. Mary Wilson, Emma L. Wilkison, Wm. Whittier, Herman Woonsink, Casper Waite.
As indicated by their names, the deceased were largely Germans.
THE DROUTH OF 1838.
The most extreme drouth known in the history of Toledo was that of 1838-commencing in mid-Summer and continuing till mid Autumn. Some of the features and attendant facts of that occasion have permanent inter-
574 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.
est. Dr. Daniel Drake, an old and highly intelligent Physician of Cincinnati, spent some time here in 1842, and furnished the following statement of the memorable drouth of 1838
The Summer and Autumn of 1838 were signalized by a drouth of longer duration and geographical extent than had been experienced from the first settlement of the country. It extended from the River Raisin, or some point further North, round to the bead of the Huron River, on the South side of Lake Erie, if not still further East. The country, quite up to the sources of all the Rivers lying between the Raisin and the Huron, suffered in nearly equal degree under its withering influence. On the Bay and Estuary of the Maumee, according to Professor Ackley, no rain fell from the third day of July until the 15th of October. Drs. Calvin Smith and George R. Perkins of Toledo reckoned its duration at four months. In the upper Valley of the Sandusky River, as Judge John Carey informed me, the last rain was on the 17th of May, after which none occurred until October. At Tiffin, lower on the same River, the wells went dry before the middle of July. All the smaller streams throughout the whole region were exhausted, and their beds became dusty. Wild animals of every kind found in that region, collected on the banks of the larger Rivers, and even approached the Towns. Deer and Raccoons were numerous between Toledo and Maumee City; Quails passed over the Town plat ; and Frogs of the shallow and sedgy waters of the old bed of Swan Creek, now dried up, migrated in countless numbers through the Streets of Toledo to the Maumee River. The wet prairies of the interior were dried, and the grass of the dried ones withered; the marshes and pools of the posttertiary uplands ; even those of the Black Swamp, from the Maumee to Sandusky River, were evaporated, their bottoms cracked open from shrinking, the leaves of many of the trees growing in them perished, and, in some instances, the trees themselves were killed. Under this great drying process it was, that the ordinary Autumnal fever was raised into such an epidemic as never was known before. But its sway was not equal in all parts of the region in which the drouth prevailed. The excavation of the Canal was at that time going on from its mouth at Manhattan, to its head at Maumee. The laborers, 400 or 500 in number, were chiefly Irish, who generally lodged in temporary shanties, while some occupied bowers formed with green limbs of trees. It does not appear that a greater proportion of these operators suffered than of the resident population ; but a far greater proportion died. Professor Ackley mentions a circumstance which deserves to be recorded. One Canal contractor kept a liquor store and sold whisky to all whom he employed, which was freely drank by themselves and their families. The mortality among these was very great. Another contractor lodged his operators on straw-beds, in the upper room of a large frame house ; made them retire early ; kept them from the use of whisky ; and nearly all escaped disease. The occurrence of rain about the middle of October, with subsequent frost, put an end to the epidemic.
It is within the memory of some yet living, that the season of 1838 was the most fatal from disease in the history of Toledo and the Maumee Valley.
The drouth of 1867 in Northern Ohio was remarkable. The aggregate water-fall of June, July, August and September, at Toledo, was 8.42 inches, against 18.29 in 1866; 27.61, in 1865; and an average of 15.59 for same period in that and six preceding years. At Kelley's Island the fall was 5.80 inches, against an average of 12.29 for the nine preceding years. The thermometrical mean in both localities was about the average of former years.
REPORT ON MESMERISM.
During the year 1842, as before and afterwards, considerable popular interest was taken in the science of Mesmerism, or Animal Magnetism, as sometimes called, whereby with manipulations, one person was understood to secure and maintain a certain degree of mental control over another. In December of that year, a Professor of that science by the name of Do Bonneville, visited Toledo, and for a time occupied the attention of the people, commanding the credence of many, while others were incredulous. The Blade, in setting forth the Professor's claims, said he would << fasten one to the floor by a motion of his finger, paralyze his arm by an exertion of the will; and bring on an attack of the apoplexy, by a single glance of the eye. All these and more, can this mighty Magician perform, without contact, without speech, and simply by a motion of the finger, or a glance of the eye, or the exercise of the will." Finally the Professor requested that a committee of citizens should examine his experiments in Animal Magnetism, and more especially in Clairvoyance, and report the result. This committee consisted of Hezekiah D. Mason, James Myers, Caleb F. Abbott, Dr. Calvin Smith, Rev. Geo. R. Haswell, Dr. Geo. R. Perkins, Charles W. Hill, Daniel McBain (then editor of the Blade), Heman Walbridge, and George B. Way-a combination of general and scientific intelligence, which Toledo then could hardly have duplicated. These gentlemen attended the experiments of the Professor on three different days, giving their closest candid attention thereto. In their report, they state that ever,), attempt made by the operator, mainly with " subjects " who traveled with him, he entirely failed to sustain his claims. The Committee declared that "no evidence going to prove the truth of Clairvoyance had been adduced before them, although they waited with patience upon Professor Bonneville through all the tests and experiments which he proposed." Upon the physical effects of' Somnambulism they did not feel called to report, that being a branch of the subject not submitted to them.
The effect of this report was an early subsidence of public interest in mesmerism.
EPIZOOTY.
The disease of horses, known as Epizooty, prevailed at Toledo in November, 1872, to a serious extent. The prevailing symptoms were sore throat, irritation of the nasal passages, purulent discharges, weakness and ema-
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ciation. There was comparatively little of dropsical affection attendant on the disease as described. So prevalent was the disorder for some days, that business was seriously interrupted. All regular lines of horse-travel were suspended, with but few vehicles on the streets. Shipments of goods by wholesale dealers and others were largely delayed, and some houses resorted to the use of oxen for such purpose. The Street Railways suffered much -the Adams Street Road being suspended entirely and the Summit Street line having but four well horses. A public meeting was held at the Board of Trade Rooms, for the purpose of devising a substitute for horse-power in connection with the Fire Department, at which the City Council was requested to employ 100 men, to perform duty at night in manning the fire engines during the prevalence of the horse disease. It was calculated that 40 men would be found necessary for the movement of each Steamer. In accordance with a suggestion by this meeting, the citizens of the several Wards met on the evening of November 21st, and made more or less of organization for volunteer assistance of the Fire Department. The City Council approved such action by the citizens, and authorized the purchase of one yoke of oxen, and the employment of as many men as the Chief of the Fire Department should find necessary. Fortunately, the call for such help in that direction was very small, the City being almost wholly exempt from fires during the prevalence of the distemper.